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there was definitely a point during Sunday where one of the booths (Cyberpower?) were throwing out bags filled with swag and I passed behind one of these crowds to try to get through when all of a sudden, a swag bag was tossed literally at my feet

/begin trample

I tried reaching for it, just to see what it was (didn't look worth it) but was shoved pretty hastily by some adolescent fatbodied Mongos in the mob when an enforcer came down in one fell swoop (literally out of nowhere), pulled me up, and got them all to back off

Thanks a bunch dude, I only had my thumb stepped on, but I'm sure they would have scraped my soul from the bottom of their shoes given the chance

Thanks to all the rest of them as well, by far the most helpful and excited staff

I got lost more times than I can remember, and Enforcers were always there to point me in the right direction, without making me feel like a silly goose for thinking I was on the opposite side of the building than I actually was (or a different floor )

Seriously, you guys were awesome! From casually chatting to me about a game I was playing to pointing me in the direction of the exit at the end of the night, you all made my first PAX an easy experience. Thanks again!!

Great job. I have a terrible time with directions. There seemed always to be an enforcer around when I needed someone to point me in the right direction. Always friendly as well. Thanks guys for all your hard work.

Thanks enforcers. I especially enjoyed the arts & crafts in line for JoCo again. Last year I made a monkey, this year I made a pegasus. I had no responsibility this weekend and I'm exhausted, I can't imagine how tired you folks must be today.

seriously, enforcers are the best. so on top of things. at one point i happened to mention to my bf that i had forgotten to fill my water bottle before leaving the hotel room, and a passing enforcer overheard and pointed me towards some water coolers in an empty panel room. it's just great to see how much they genuinely care about making pax an awesome experience for everyone. thanks enforcers!!!

My only negative comment about the enforcers was during the 'To Hell and Back Again" panel with Dave Brevik. After his remarks concluded and he started taking questions, the back half of the room started talking extremely loud, to the point where we could barely hear questions or responses, even though we sat quite close to a speaker.

I looked over that the enforcer in the room, and he was sitting on his laptop with headphones on. Would have liked to see him take care of that. (Then again, I would have liked to see people respect the speaker too.)

A huge shout out to Tango. You are the greatest of all gentlemen, and unlike some folks I could tell that you were really concerned for us.

Backstory:

After the mmorpg.com panel, my wife really wanted Curt Shilling's autograph. I was trying to help her, got her 3-day pass, and handed it to him to sign. When it came back, I thought my wife grabbed it from me, but it turns out someone else stole it from my hands. Everything was pretty hectic so I didn't realize what happened right away. Tango really cared, even though there was nothing he could do directly, but when he saw us the next day he immediately recognized us, apologized to us (even though he had no reason to), and was just a generally awesome person.

Even though I read the floor plans/layouts in .pdf format that were posted in advance, actually going there in person was a completely different animal! So many enforcers were so forthcoming and ready/willing/able to answer any and all questions that my wife and I had, great job Enforcers!!! The fact that you are all doing this as volunteers and apparently even short staffed at the last minute, such an excellent job to all of you!!!

Good job by the Enforcers, especially the queue room Sunday morning when there were only three of you who managed to quickly stomp out people trying to jump the line for that last 40 minutes or so. There were far more of you needed, but you got them to move along them before many of us started to try to get your attention.

Just to echo what everyone else says, The enforcers were incredible! I brought my 6 yr old son on Sunday and was showing him what an enforcer was so he knew who to talk to. The enforcer I was pointing out happened to be taking a picture at the time but stopped and took a couple of seconds to reassure my son about these wonderful, amazing people in red shirts. Those couple of seconds meant a lot to me as it made an impression on my son that these enforcers were someone he could go to and be safe if we got separated.

I also want to echo what everyone is saying about the enforcers. They were incredible and extremely helpful in helping us navigate this huge and at times confusing new venue. They have an incredibly positive impact on the convention and I am sure I wouldn't have had the same experience without them.
So once again thank you enforcers!

I always try to thank the Enforcers while I am at PAX (I bought the BYOC staff a pizza Saturday night, and gave Red a challenge coin), but I will certainly throw my voice in here and thank them for being the real front-line staff that keeps everything running. GG GUYS!

Enforcers were brilliant as always, but a special shout-out to the information desk who had to put up with my random attempts at the XP Hunt (it turned out we'd put the comma in the wrong place, and it had all gone to hell after that). We may not have got the answer, but we had a lot of fun, thanks!

I got lost more times than I can remember, and Enforcers were always there to point me in the right direction, without making me feel like a silly goose for thinking I was on the opposite side of the building than I actually was (or a different floor )

THANK YOU GUYS SOOOO MUCH!!! You are ALL AWESOME!!!

This! I felt like we were bros when you guys helped me and my party find where we needed to be.

Also, you're great for having extra lanyards with you seemingly at all times, since the tabletop tables broke three of ours in one day. You guys are the best!

Went with a few people, including a young couple and their 5 month old son. It was (all 3) of their first time at a PAX. Friday we made it to the expo hall after the keynote, and Little Bubby went into his stroller*. A kilted enforcer saw us and said that unfortunally, strollers were against the rules on the expo floor, and he had to escort them out of the expo hall, back to the main enterance, where they'd have to get the stroller checked.

As he caught us in the middle of an expo hall aisle intersection, we were blocking traffic, so he first plowed a route for us to some of the table space in the expo hall, where the couple could first ask questions and get help before acting.

The whole time, this enforcer was apologetics about the whole thing, rather then being "NO! NO! RULES VIOLATION! ONE STROLLER! RETURN NOW THIS INSTANT!", wanting to help us out but wanting to maintain the rules (I assume) BCEC set forth.

All this was on the spot, respectful of us by explaining the rules and working out a solution, respectful of others by moving the conversation to a non-crowded spot, and respectful of the host. What sealed it was when we chanced upon him later on the day, he remembered us and wanted to make sure things had worked out okay.

Small thing, all of this, but why I thank every Enforcer.

*Khoo Awesome Story Time. After the Keynote, 3 of us were trying to leave with said stroller. Saw the escalators, my friends get into "escalator descension mode" (We got up in escalator ascension mode"...geek parents are fun to be around). Seemingly out of no where, an unmasked man appears, offering assistance and pointing us out to the elevator. It was like something out of a movie, just how he showed up at the right moment, helped us out, and vanished the next, apparently to go help some other con goer.

psychopez on March 2011

“Myth is the hidden part of every story, the buried part, the region that is still unexplored because there are as yet no words to enable us to get there."

I rushed through a small gathering of enforcers bumping one and breaking my badge in the process. An Enforcer picked up my badge and fixed it.

After I thanked her, she very politely replied, "Not a problem. Now go have fun you rude bastard". Totally fitting, deserving, and extremely helpful to fix my badge even though it was my dick-ishness that caused it.

Yeah, Enforcers were great this year. I had a few (minor) complaints at the first East, mostly about organization and communication, but the Enforcers at East 2011 were outstanding. I heard some people say that maybe they were a little lost themselves at times, but as the expo matures at BCEC everyone will figure out that massive place just fine. I only really talked at length with one Enforcer, unfortunately I forget his name, but he was a pleasure to talk to. I heard a lot of first-time PAXers and long-time panelists talking about how great the Enforcers are compared to other cons' paid security staff, so I'm definitely not alone in my sentiments. East 2011 was my fifth PAX, and the Enforcers are a major part of why PAX is so great. Thank you!

Thanks Enforcers! It never ceases to amaze how universally eager you are to perform mundane, mind-numbing tasks to help try and make that final push between a good show and a great show.

Make no mistake, sooo much of what the Enforcers do is not at all glamorous. It's not just about often working up to 18 hours (or more) while still keeping level head and a steady hand amidst what is, lets face it, organized chaos. There's stuffing tens of thousands of swag bags in a single 12 hour stretch. There's installing software on several hundred computers. There's racing through an -enormous- convention center to deliver a ream of paper. There's constant trips to Costco/Best Buy/Home Depot. There's rummaging through piles of often questionably valued recovered items in the hopes of matching what's lost with what's found. There's being fully prepared to deal with the (EXTREMELY) rare unruly attendee/media/speaker that disrupts the flow of the show.

And of course remember that PAX is not just a 3 day sprint for Enforcers. It's a 6 day marathon. 6 days that they are not doing their normal jobs. 6 days that they are not spending with their families (...well, not their "normal" families). 6 days of little sleep, little food, and an excess of physical and mental exertion.

And what do they get in return for all that? A blue, long sleeved t-shirt and the satisfaction of contributing to something they love.

It takes an Enforcer for that equation to work itself out and keep them coming back next time.

Thank you for the one that went and found a lanyard for me when I didn't have one and was deep in convo with Tim Schafer and Wade Becket. I knew I was going to get bothered about, was looking for one without leaving show floor and got sidetracked but a gaming legend. Wasn't giving that time up

I would like to thank all the enforcers throughout the whole thing.
Though I overheard one enforcer that was talking bad about someone in cosplay but I could contribute that to the long hours and stint of work being done (I know how those hours can work on someone).

In a brighter note, I would like to thank the lady/girl working the line at Blair signing. I started to get mad when someone cut in front of me from the queue line into the line in front signing table.
I was stopped and had to wait longer because of those guys. I slipped up and said "Those guys freaking cut in front of me" to her. She was nice but said "Then go beat them up!". I quickly said "Okay". She knew I was joking (I hope maybe I was.. lol). I then recouped myself with "Well at least now I can stay and talk to you". Which lead to talking about pax, the schedule, and a ton of other stuff.

In the end, I would like to thank her for saving my cool. Since I was near the end of the line then I could stay longer and BS with x-play crew and Blair Herter for awhile and even get a cool picture.

Thank you all. Since Prime 2011 is going to be my fourth I kind of want to step up to be an enforcer this time (I will actually have the days surrounding pax to take off as well).